Influence of Membrane Permittivity on Charge Regulation of Weak Polyelectrolytes End-Tethered in Nanopores

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01391
• Publication Date: 2022-09-13T15:29:28Z
• Authors: Shiyi Qin; Rikkert J. Nap; Kai Huang; Igal Szleifer
• Keywords: Nanopore; Surface charge; Charge density

Artificial nanopores functionalized with weak polyelectrolytes are an interesting and important class of stimuli-responsive nanofluidic devices. So far, the effects dielectric properties supporting nanopore surface on behavior largely unexplored. Here, we theoretically investigate influence that mismatch between solvent has charge regulation polyelectrolyte brushes inside nanopore. Our approach is based a molecular theory explicitly incorporates coupling organization, physical interactions, chemical equilibrium. It further extended to consider both as well those polymer layer. We find polarization plays crucial role in modulating structure end-tethered inner wall Likewise, influences nanoscale transport through demonstrate different membrane can result large changes local ion distribution electrostatic potential around ionizable groups polyelectrolytes, which simultaneously alter layer quantitative systematically reveals how various intrinsic external factors such bulk salt concentration, grafting density, length its For specific conditions, report high sensitivity translocating cargoes polyelectrolyte-coated surface.